Animal trap



July 14, 1936. v, SER|E 2,047,892

ANIMAL TRAP July 14,i .1936. v. sERlcE 2,047,892

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Deo. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM/fm nu l Uwe/1,5' Se/ffce respectively, of the same in Patenie'd YJuly 14, 1936 l i'rEo sTATEs PATENT OFFICE This invention relates toanimal trapslof the type having two sets of spring pressed jaws clos- Ving from opposite directions at right angles to each other and operating simultaneously when tripped by movement of a single centrally placed contact'plate or pan.

The invention aims to'improve the design, construction and functioning of traps of this type, and has for its objects to make it' easy andl safe for the user to set the trap, to insure against escape Vof the trapped'animal, and to simplify the mechanical construction and cheapen the cost.

Further aims and objects of the invention and what it comprises appear in connection with the following description of a trap embodying the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in the appended claims. In the'drawings,

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views of the illustrative trap in normal sprung position and in set position, respectively; n

' Figs. 3 and 4 are a side view and an end View, normal position; and- Figs. and 6 are cross-sections of the trap in set positions, Fig. 5 being on the lines 5 5 4of Figs. 2 and 6, and Fig. 6 being on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, respectively, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The trap shown in the drawings has a frame shaped like a cross with'the inner jaws I I, I2, pivotally mounted on the central stem I0, and the outer jaws I3, I4, pivotally secured together near thejends'of the cross member I 0a. One of the outer jaws, I3, is attached at its ends to the ends of the frame cross member and at its mid-point to one end of the central stem of the frame, thereby lstiiening the'frame. f Thertwo outer jaws are pressed towards each other bya coiled spring I5, embracing the pivot p in ,I 6, which extends inwardly 'through the Xed jaw I3 and movablevjaw I4 and is secured to the central stem of the frame. The outer end of the pivot pin I6 has an eye I'l for attaching a chain I 8 or other anchoring or securing means for preventing the trapped animal Yfrom carrying the trap away. The inner end of the coiled' spring I 5 is extended and secured between the inner end of the-pivotY pin I6 and the frame, and the outer end ofthe spring is extended and hooked under the movable jawv I4 in set position of the trap (see Fig.'2) A The inner jaws I I, I2, are shaped alike except that they are complementary Vright and left, and one or both may be provided with a series of teeth 12 claims. (c1. 1s-ss) I9, shown as attached within the jaw I2. They are each pivoted at one end in holes side by side in a bracket 2U secured to the stem of the frame, and at the other end in similar holes punched through an upright flange 2I bent up at the end 5' of the stem away from the fixed jaw I3. The ends 22 of the jaws II, I2 project through the flange 2I and are bent upwards and outwards in normal position of the jaws, forming short lever arms for spreading the jaws II, I2, when the 10 operating bar 23 is depressed. This operating bar is bifurcated to embrace the jaws II, I2, and is mounted on 'a pivot pin 24 which in turn is mounted within the coils of the 'springs 25 which tend to swing the operating bar upwards from its set position. The ends of the coil springs are4 held by passing them through a hole in the stem of the frame.

The jaws II, I2, are tapered in width towards one end where they pass between the sides of the operating bar, which has an opening 26 to receive them, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, Yand which normally hold them tightly closed by wedge or cam action.

The operating bar 23 has a pivoted gravity 25 actuated latch 21 at its outer end to engage over and hold down the movable outer jaw I4 in set position, as hereinafter described (see Figs. 2 and 5). 'Ihus the operating bar controls the move- 30 ments of both jaws.

The inner jaws are held open in set position against the pressure of the springs 25 tending to swing the operating bar 23 in the direction to raise the jaws and clamp them shut between the sides of the opening 26. I'he mechanism for holding the inner jawsin open position includes a pivoted dog 28 and balanced contact pan or trip plate 29, pivoted on ears 3B on the cross bar of the frame, the weight of which normally holds it in horizontal position with its outer bifurcated end resting on a stop 3I on the frame.

The dog 28 is pivoted on the cross member of the frame to swing in a vertical plane between the bifurcations of the contact plate 29, and has two outwardly projecting prongs 32, 33, and an inwardly projecting arm. 'Ihe lower prong 32 projects under the jaw II when it is depressed, and further downward movement raises the inner end of the dog to engage and lift the trip plate 29 50 until the end of the dog can pass by, whereupon the plate drops back by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 6 and prevents the dog from dropping antil the plate is depressed to spring the trap, thus holding the upper prong 33 over the 55 depressed jaw I I to retain it in set position until the trap is sprung.

To set the trap illustrated in the drawings it isv ionly necessary to grasp the frame ID from below, Vas shown in Fig. 3, in one hand and the operating bar 23 in the other, and depress the bar until it strikes the lever arms 22 on the ends of the jaws II, I2, and opens the jaws out flat, whereupon the jaw I Iy will engage the lower prong 32 on the dog 28 and vfurther downward movement will tilt it to raise ythe. inner end of the vdog until it lifts the outer end of the contact plate 29 sufficiently to pass above it.` Immediately the plate falls by its own weight and its edge passes under the inner end ofthe dog to hold it in locking position I with the upper prong 33 projecting over the jaw II to hold it open as shown in Fig. 65 The jaw in turn holds the operating barf23 in set position until the trap is sprung.

Next, without changing the position ofy theA hand holding the frame partof the;.trap, With the other handigrasp the large movable jawIA and swing it up and overthe pivot point and down until itrsnaps under the gravity operated latch 2l; which vlocks it in open position so long as the operating vbar. 23 isheldfdownby the innerjaw Il. y l

Or, if desired, thetrap majT be setjwith thetwo feet and only one' hand where hard ground is available to 'lay iton. Place `the trap on the ground in the position illustrated in Figs. 1` and 3 step on Vthe jaws I3 and I4 with,` one foot and depress the operating bar 23 with the otherruntil the jaws Il, I2, are opened wide'and the,l locking dog V28 ,andrcontact plate 29` are set 'to` holdlnthe jaws open.- Then place the two feethon the outa Vwardly-projecting curved parts of the stationary ireleased practically simultaneouslmthe sudden movement causing the whole trap tov jump int() the air, and insuring a good holdof the inner jaws on the leg or other part'of theanirnalrthat sprung it. The jaw and closing springarrangel ment of the large set of jaws is such as to seize the animal in a transverse fdirection to thatot the inner jaws so that it is impossible` for the animal to work its leg backand forth inthe inner jaws to loosenthei'r grip, and working the leg back and forth `in the outer jaws isinefective to loosen thegrip of the inner jaws.

In the, trap shown inthe drawings, the frame, operating partsVand jaws are made of pressed steel with the exception of the springs, which are spring steel wire;`and all of the parts are inX- pensive'to make andreadily assembled, and are held in assembled position by rivetingj'peening or bending and upsetting'no screws or other removable fastening means being employed.

The number of parts is a YminimumV for the double jaw `typecf trap, and the shape of the parts is contrived to add to their strength and reduce the weighty of the trap for l-a given size or kindof animal, thus enabling traps embodying the invention tobe manufactured and sold at a*V comparatively low price. Y l

Having described a' preferred Aembodiment of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isA as follows:

l. An animal trap having twosets of jaws disposed with their axes at right angles, Van operating bar for opening and closing one set of jaws,

ysaid operating bar carrying an independently movable latch for holding open the other set of jaws, a spring for actuating said operating bar to close said rst mentioned jaws, vand a separate spring for closing said second set of jaws.

, 2. An animal trap comprising a frame having a main member and a cross member, inner jaws pivotally mounted on said main member dand an outer Vjaw Xedly connected to said nti-ain member at its middle and to the ends'15 .of said cross member at its ends, a second'outer "'jaw pivotally connected to said iiXed jawcoil A springs for swinging said jaws into closed position, and self latching means pivotally mounted on :said main and crossrrnembers, respectively, for holding said jawslopenagainst thel closing pressure of'saidsprings, l l i Y '3, An animal'trap comprising aframehavinga Y a main member Aand a cross member, inner jaws pivotally'mountedon said main member and an outer Vjaw fixedly connected to saidr'main memberat itsf middleland to the ends of said cross member atfitsends, said main member extendingy beyond the ends ofl said fixedgjawandA having its end provided with meansfor Vactuating said inner, jaws, a second outer jaw pivotally connected to saidvxedijaw, coil springs for swinging, said jaws into closed position, and means `for holding said jaws open against the closing pressure of said springs, said means including a gravity actuated latclrlmounted on saidcross member and a second gravity actuated latch Vmounted on said linner Vjaw actuating means. f Y l 4. An animal trap comprising a frame having aVv main member and a cross member, inner jaws pivotally mounted on said main member andV an outer jawiixedly connected to said main memberf'at its jmiddle and to the ends of said cross memberr4 at its ends, a second outer jaw pivot-V Y allyv connected to said fixed jaw, said inner `jaw actuating meansV being provided with a pivoted latch'for holding said second outer jawvin set position, Vcoil springs-for swinging said jaws into closed position, and meanslfor holding said jaws open against the vclosing pressure of `(said springs.

5. An animal trap having two'sets or jaws disposed with their aXes at right angles, an operating bar forV opening and closing one Yset of jaws,

said operating bar carrying aayieldable snap` latch for holding open the other set of jaws, a spring for actuating said operating bar to close said rst mentioned jaws, and a separatek spring for closing said second set of jaws, said :operating bar being held in set position by one' of said inner said inner jaw in open position. v

6. An animal trap having .two sets of jaws disposed with theiraxes at right angles, an-operating bar for opening and closing one set of jaws,

said loperating bar Ycarrying a `yieldable snap 6.5..

latch for holding open the other set of jaws, a spring for actuating said operating bar to close saidiirst mentioned jaws; and a separate spring for closing -said second set Vof jaws, said operat-Y ing bar being held in set positionr byY oneof said 70 inner jaws, and a trigger held latch for holding said inner jaw in open position, said. trigger, held jlatch havinga portion to. be .engagedY by saidV inner jaw for setting said latch by the opening Ymov@fluent.01?,Seidl jaw.' l 75 jaws, and a trigger held latch for holding Y,

7. An animal trap having two sets of jaws, an operating bar for opening and closing one set of jaws, said operating bar carrying self-latching means for holding open the other set of jaws, a spring for actuating said operating bar to close said first mentioned jaws, and a separate spring for closing said second set of jaws, said operating bar being held in set position by one of said inner jaws, and a trigger held latch for holding said inner jaw in open position.

8. In an animal trap of the type having twoY Y sets of spring pressed jaws closing from opposite directions at right angles to each other, a crossshape frame for supporting the jaws, a counter weighted contact plate centrally disposed with respect to said frame and jaws, said contact plate being pivotally mounted on said frame at a point intermediate its contact portion and its counter weight portion, a dog pivotally mounted to one side oi the pivot point of said contact plate Vand having an arm overlapping the latter, upper and lower prongs on said dog at the other side of its pivot, said lower prong being engaged by one of said innerjaws in setting the trap to set the dog and contact plate, and said upper prong being adapted to overlie said jaw in set position of the trap to hold the same, and means associated with said jaw for retaining one of' the jaws of the other set, whereby depressing said contact plate springs both sets of jaws substantially simultaneously.

9. In an animal trap of the type having two sets of spring pressed jaws closing from opposite directions at right angles to each other, a frame for supporting the jaws, a counter weighted contact plate centrally disposed with respect to said jaws, said contact plate being pivotally mounted on said frame at a point intermediate its contact portion and its counter weight portion, a dog pivotally mounted to one side of the pivot point of said contact plate and having an arm overlapping the latter, a detent on said dog at the other side of its pivot and adapted to overlie one of said jaws in set position of the trap to hold the same, spring pressed means for opening and closing said jaws, said means being held in open position against the pressure of its spring by said jaws when held open by said detent, and yieldable detent means associated with said jaw opening and closing means for retaining one of the jaws of the other set, whereby depressing said f contact plate springs both sets of jaws substantially simultaneously.

10. In an animal trap of the type having two sets of spring pressed jaws closing from opposite directions at right angles to each other, a crossshape frame for supporting the jaws, a counter weighted contact plate centrally disposed with respect to said frame and jaws, said contact plate being pivotally mounted on said frame at a point intermediate its contact portion and its counter weight portion, a dog pivotally mounted to one side of the pivot point of said contact plate and having an arm overlapping the latter, upper and lower prongs on said dog at the other side of its pivot and adapted to overlie and underlie one of said jaws in set position of the trap to hold the same, the lower prong being engaged by said jaw in opening to tilt the dog and raise the arm to ldisplace the contact plate against the action of gravity, and upon resuming its normal position after said arm has passed by its edge, said contact plate operates to prevent said arm from lowering to permit the dog to tilt back to release said jaw, and an operating lever pivoted to said frame and having an intermediate portion adapted to open said jaws and a yieldable snap latch at its free end to engage and hold in open position a jaw of the other set, said operating lever being retained in jaw holding position by said rst set of jaws when in open position.

11. A double jaw trap of the type having two sets of spring pressed jaws closing from opposite directions at right angles to each other, one set of jaws being inside of the other, coil springs for operating said jaws and tending to hold them closed, a plurality of gravity operated detents, one for each set of jaws, for holding said jaws open, and a gravity operated contact plate retaining one of said detents for springing said trap, said detents and plates being set automatically by the opening movement of said sets of jaws.

12. A double jaw trap of the type having two sets of spring actuated jaws closing from opposite directions at right angles to each other, an operating bar for opening and closing one set of jaws, said operating bar carrying a yieldable snap latch for holding open the other set of jaws, a detent for holding open the rst set of jaws, said first set of jaws when open retaining said operating bar in latching position, and trigger means to hold said detent in position to hold open the rst set of jaws, whereby movement of said trigger means to release said detent springs both sets of jaws.

VINCENT SERICE. 

